Aaaand here's what I got up to yesterday!
So Friday night, filled with post-show excitement, I ended up going to bed about 3am, and then woke up at 8, as though my body was saying 'get up! Get up! Watch BSG!' I leaned over and poked my laptop and found that it had in fact finished downloading. So I watched it in bed. All I'll say is: buh?
I then dressed and headed over to Grand Central (not too far away), grabbing a coffee on the way. The plan for the day was to head up to Yonkers to see the planetarium show at the Hudson River Museum, which Kate narrated.
So I arrived at Grand Central, took some photos of course, and then once I had my ticket I headed to the food court. I ended up grabbing a slice of pizza from Two Boots. So good! I want a slice of Dude now.
After this I headed across to the train, which was all on time and so about half an hour later I found myself in Yonkers. (And yes, I had that song running through my head all day.)
I had been informed that there would be taxis outside the station but there were none, so I walked around pointlessly for some time. Eventually I ended up at the waterfront, and took some photos of the (partially) frozen Hudson river. I ducked into a shop and asked the guy about taxis, and he said if I went onto Main St and just kept going I'd see loads of 'em.
So I kept going, and couldn't see any, and was beginning to become ~vexed~ but sure enough, I kept going even further and there they were. I should point out that this whole walking around lost/taxi hunt bit took a bloody long time. I even Googled some numbers and called one but they were about as much help as a chocolate teapot. Anyway! I got one in the end. And when we arrived at the museum I asked the guy (Seker) for a number to call to get a cab later, and he gave me his number.
I arrived at the museum with quite a lot of time to kill, so I toured the exhibits. It's a pretty small museum, but at the back they have a Victorian mansion attached, which has been partly restored to its former glory. It was gorgeous! And as well as being gorgeous inside there were views over the river to the Palisades. Upstairs there was a 26-room doll's house which I managed to sneak some pictures of.
So after the mansion (Glenview) I went to have a look at the art exhibition. I'm not usually much of an art appreciator, but I loved this exhibition! the art was by Whitfield Lovell and consisted of charcoal drawings of African Americans on wood (wood which had been found, so some of it had unusual textures or was very old) with found items complimenting them, for example bottles, books, furniture or one amazing series where each face was complimented by a playing card. I loved all the pieces and ended up buying the booklet about the exhibition. I hadn't seen anything like that before.
Then I sat on a bench and flicked through the booklet until it was time for the planetarium show. Lots of children there. By the time the doors opened the queue was massive! We all filed in and the entire planetarium was full. The woman in charge said, "I've been here four years, and I've never seen a crowd like this!"
While we were waiting for it to start the woman next to me said to her husband, of Kate, "I love her voice, don't you?". Agreed, stranger.
So the show ('The Planets') started. It wasn't omgmindblowing, but it was a great show with plenty of information. And it wasn't dumbed down at all, in fact it came quite close to technobabble in the beginning. (Something to do with 'it could have been a shockwave from a gravitational displacement energy something-or-other...')
But yes, it was very good and I think should become mandatory for all schoolchildren across the world immediately, LOL. I wish I'd been able to see it when I was a kid!
There was also a bit at the end about the discovery of the planet Vulcan in real life - i.e. them discovering a real planet where Trek peeps had always claimed Vulcan to be, in orbit of 40 Eridani A. Several of the adults in the room tittered.
But yes, can't complain about getting to lie back and listen to Kate's voice for 45 minutes. And I have always loved planetariums, I really miss the one in London - it's still there, but the show is now an Aardman Animations one, which is very fun but I miss the stars.
So after that I called up Seker and he came to pick me up, and it wasn't until quite a way into the journey I noticed there was someone sitting in the front passenger seat (which is screened off from the back seats) - I spotted the edge of a hat. They didn't speak or move the entire journey. o_O
I got on the first train back to New york which arrived and was back at Grand Central in no time.
It was pretty late by this time, so I decided to walk over to 5th avenue to hit up a couple of shops I didn't get a chance to on Thursday. But, just my luck, they close earlier on Saturdays (whut?) so I missed World of Disney! Woe! I did manage to get into Tiffany's before it closed, though, and bought myself a little silver charm necklace which I love to bits. I'd been planning to buy a little something from there for months, now, which is why I've been avoiding Swarovski like the plague, and other jewellery shops too, like Accessorize.
It's just a silver heart-shaped charm, no diamonds or anything LOL.
As I passed Saks Fifth Avenue I, and all the other people walking past, had to go to the edge of the pavement to avoid a river of water that was coming from somewhere. I was a bit confused, looking down to see where I was going, until someone said, "oh my God! Look at their windows!"
There was water flowing down the inside and outside of the windows, spraying in and all over the clothes on display. There were at least two inches of water inside the window displays on the floor, and a whole load of people had stopped outside to stare open-mouthed at the water running down the glass and the outside of the building. I can only assume a pipe burst from the cold. There was a huge hose pumping out the water into the street, which was the 'river' we had to go round earlier. Oh dear!
After that I decided to head back to the hotel, and looked up an Italian place online. I made my reservation online as well and then headed across when it was time. I knew it was close but didn't realise it was *that* close; it was literally around the corner. Excellent!
The meal was fantastic! I had a green salad with a gorgeous dressing, then penne vodka which was just gorgeous. Dessert was, of course, a lovely light Tiramisu, and I got my cocktail after all. I'd wanted to have a cocktail at some point before I left, and their special was a blueberry and pomegranate Martini, so I had one of those. :D
The whole thing was quite pricey - mainly due to the exchange rate, not the menu - but it was delicious, and the staff were great. Afterwards I wandered back to the hotel and found myself suddenly very sleepy from all the walking, so I went to bed at 12.
I woke up with a jolt at 8am and somehow thought it was much later, grabbing blindly for my phone and relaxing when I saw how early it was. Phew. And then I opened the shutters and went OMGSNOW!! It was snowing really heavily. I was pretty excited as we just don't get snow at home any more.
Later on today I'm going to head across to Broadway as I'm seeing the matinee of Equus. It's also the last performance during my time here - well, unless you count the one on Tuesday night, when I will be at the airport. I did briefly consider walking there last night and seeing if they had any tickets left, but after my little splurge at Tiffany's it wasn't a good idea. It wouldn't have been a good idea anyway, it's very expensive. This afternoon my seat is one row back from where I was last time but a bit more central, so I should have a slightly different view. Not sure what I'll be doing tomorrow as it's a bank holiday here.
More soon!
It's a *bit* warmer today, wither that or I dressed better for it, IDK, but it wasn't quite as face-bitingly cold as it was yesterday. After Equus last night I walked about 10 metres before it became physically painful. The giant clock said it was -11C, which apparently with wind chill was about -18C. JEEBUS.
Anyway, here's what I got up to yesterday!
I went out to find the subway when I left the hotel, couldn't find it, and was just puzzling about it when it appeared in front of me. That happens a lot, I've found. I bought a Metrocard and headed uptown, intending to just wander until I found somewhere familiar, and found myself a few blocks from Times Square. LMAO. Quite familiar, then. XD
It was frakking freezing but sunny, so after grabbing a warming coffee I sat at one of the red metal tables right in the middle of Times Square and watched the world go by for a bit as I drank it. Quite quickly, I might add. I then took a few photos - I saw the 'War Is Over' sign up; good for you, Yoko.
Found the Broadhurst Theatre, which wasn't very difficult. And pointless as I got a taxi there later on. But whatever.
I wanted to pick up the Region 1 BSG 4.0, so headed to the Virgin Megastore. Picked that up, the Star Trek Alternate Realities boxset and a purple Beatles t-shirt (continuing the purple theme - I swear, I only brought purple and black clothes with me). I then walked - or, mooched, really - around a bit more - stopped at Office Depot, bought some pens, went into the Hard Rock Cafe and bought another purple t-shirt, then back to Starbucks again, this time for a caramel apple spice, which went cold in about five seconds. *fistshake*
I was a block of ice at this point so ducked into Toys-r-Us to thaw. They had a foot-long remote controlled tarantula around the place. NOT COOL. I took some pics of the Lego Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building, and of course JURASSIC PARK (not made of Lego sadly).
I saw some dancers in costume handing out leaflets for Chicago. They were in red tights, jackets and bowlers and must have been dying from the cold. Probably why they never stopped moving. But damn! I then went to the Visitor's Center and decided to get on the subway to Union Square to find Forbidden Planet.
Union Square was lovely! There was am amazing market selling all kinds of fresh foods, hot cider and all sorts. Saw an Adama poster on a phonebox, squee. Went to Forbidden Planet, but it was a bit disappointing! Where's the Trek and BSG love, shop?
I wandered for a bit longer, went into Barnes and Noble and bought some postcards, before realising what the time was, and I still hadn't eaten anything. I asked the assistant about the subway and she pointed me to 17th and Broadway. So I went there and couldn't see it for the life of me!
Starving, I decided to stop at Goodburger before trying again. I then decided to follow a bunch of people into what looked like a construction site, and was wondering where the hell I was going before, suddenly, there was the subway entrance. God, it's like bloody Challenge Anneka.
Anyway. I'd been doing OK on the subway up until then, but then I managed to make a journey of epic fail - well, not really, but I got off at a station that didn't go where I needed to go, and thought "...bugger", so I had to go back to Times Square and 42nd, then change to Grand Central, then go uptown to 51st and Lexington and then I just walked the rest of the way because dude.
So I didn't have that long in the hotel, just time to get changed and grab my ticket before heading downstairs to get a cab, which dropped me practically at the theatre door. However, I had misjudged how long I would need to get there and, having erred on the side of caution, was ridiculously early! And it was BALTIC! Ducked into the Hard Rock Cafe and ogled the Beatles suits and guitars for a bit, until heading over to the theatre.
There were already a few people in the weeny lobby; they didn't open the theatre itself until 7.30, so I was actually glad I got there so early or I'd have been stood outside. So we stood in the little lobby for about 20 mins until they opened the doors.
I shall do a separate post for the play but let's just say it was iiiincredible.
Afterwards I came out and didn't even consider braving the stage door; it was 15 below zero and the thought of standing about in that, or expecting the actors to stand about in that, was abhorrent. I legged it to find a taxi but somehow there were none. I know it was 11pm on a Friday night but damn! There were none! In Times Square! Whut?
So after walking for about 5 minutes I ducked into a very odd record store to thaw out, and asked for directions to the subway, only to find it was shut. So I was standing there like 'waaaaah' when a taxi stopped next to me at the lights with no one in it. RESULT. So I came back to the hotel, typed up my thoughts on the play in Word and then started the BSG download. Then it was most definitely bedtime.
:)
Good morning all! It's a beautiful day here in New York, bright and sunny, and cold like burning. So here's a quick rundown of last night, my first night here!
I headed out from the hotel at about half six, and for about - ten minutes? - I didn't feel the cold too badly, but then I slowly came to the realisation that I was turning into an ice person beneath my clothes. It was mainly my legs and my ears that were worst affected, my Russian spy gloves and coat kept the rest of me warm. But yes, I haven't really experienced cold like this before - I have been colder, but not experienced colder weather, if that makes any sense. It's not, to me, as unpleasant as very hot weather (yeah, I know! Freak!).
So today I shall be prepared in my thermal undies and - sigh - hat.
I was also exhausted, but managed to go for a bit of a walk. Got pretty lost - I did manage to find two of the shops I most wanted to visit - Bloomingdales and Dylan's Candy Bar - by accident! LOL. I didn't go crazy in either of them, but now I know where they are (at least - I think I do) if I want to go back. There's a Visitor's Center in Bloomingdales too, where if you show your ID you can get an 11% discount voucher if you're from overseas. Nifty! And if you spend over 200 dollars you get a free bag and some bits and pieces. (I don't think I will be, LOL.)
So I bought the obligatory Little Brown Bag (to go with my Big Frakkin Bag?) - I liked the Medium Canvas Bag too, would be useful for food shopping now everywhere charges for carrier bags, so I might pick up one of those sometime.
At Dylan's Candy Bar I was also very restrained (I know, I'm worried about me too!) and bought a few bars of their chocolate in various flavours like PB&J, mocha and S'mores, some bits from the Pic-n-mix (rainbow rock candy!) and splurged on a set of yummy lipbalms, with flavours like chocolate cupcake and birthday cake batter. Om nom nom. Think I'll be visiting THERE again before I leave. The shop is gorgeous, too, all bright colours and rainbows, and the stairs, which are translucent, have sweets embedded in them. If anyone back 'ome wants anything in particular that you spot on the website, send me an email or text or something.
Tiffany's was as far away from the hotel as I got last night, and no, I didn't buy anything yet muahahahahaha.
After that, I headed - slowly - back to the hotel. I kept an eye out for a place to eat, and eventually ended up eating in a place two doors down from my hotel, an Asian restaurant called Wild Ginger. I had dumplings and then a ginger chicken dish with rice, but I probably shouldn't have had a starter because I couldn't finish it! So much chicken! It was amazingly delicious though.
I was about nodding off into my food by this point so I paid up and left, and as soon as I got back to the hotel I crawled into bed and watched Family Guy for a bit. I was alarmed to see it was only about half nine, but I was exhausted. I fell asleep with the telly on and then woke up about 2am and turned it off. Then back to sleep and I finally woke up at 7.30, and have been watching TV/chillaxing since then.
So now I feel much better after much sleep. Now I'm gonna get ready and find a COFFEE, I'm getting desperate! I don't know what I'm going get up to today, no concrete plans ... navigate the subway ... have lunch somewhere... I'll head back here in the late afternoon to get ready to see Equus and so on.
Speak soon!
